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Restaurant Style Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta

A close-up shot of a generous serving of creamy cajun chicken pasta featuring fettuccine, diced chicken, and sun-dried tomatoes, garnished with parsley.
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Make this rich and spicy creamy Cajun chicken pasta at home. This recipe delivers the bold flavor and smooth sauce you expect from a great restaurant dish.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (or homemade cajun seasoning blend)
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth
  • 1 small yellow onion, chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and chopped
  • 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining. Set the pasta aside.
  2. Season the chicken pieces with salt, pepper, and the Cajun seasoning.
  3. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the seasoned chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
  4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the butter to the same skillet. Add the chopped onion and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  5. Pour in the chicken broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let it simmer for 1 minute.
  6. Stir in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens slightly, about 3-4 minutes.
  7. Stir in the sun-dried tomatoes and the grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.
  8. Return the cooked chicken to the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated.
  9. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh parsley. This makes a great quick cajun dinner idea.

Notes

  • For the best flavor, use a high-quality Cajun seasoning blend. You can make your own by mixing paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, and thyme.
  • To achieve a spicier cream pasta chicken flavor, increase the amount of cayenne pepper in your seasoning mix.
  • If you prefer a one pan cajun chicken approach, you can cook the pasta directly in the sauce by adding more liquid (broth/cream) and simmering until the pasta is tender.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://juliameal.com/creamy-cajun-chicken-pasta-recipe/